As someone who had never heard of the EFDSS up until 4 or 5 years ago, I think it's a wonderful institution.

I can pinpoint it back to one particular great jamboree of an event organised by Sam Lee and Joe Buirski of the Magpie's Nest at Cecil Sharp House. I think the efforts of Sam and others really have brought traditional music to a wider audience.

I've read broadsheet coverage of unacompanied singing, sessions, morris dancing, rapper et al that I suspect is a direct result of the more savvy EFDSS of the last few years. And I've really enjoyed the EFDSS Saturday banjo classes I've done.